Recap: Business Advocacy Committee's April 2021 Meeting

At its meeting on Monday, April 12, the Oxnard Chamber's Business Advocacy Committee (BAC) received an update from with lobbyist Fred Main on California politics and legislation straight from Sacramento. Main is a partner with Clear Advocacy LLC and provides services to the Tri-County Chambers Alliance, which covers Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Despite the focus on reopening the state, legislators are busy processing about 2.000 bills that were introduced this year. Legislation seems to be moving faster through the Capitol this year, according to Main.

Other items of discussion included: 

• There are now 22 bills on the CalChamber's Job Killer list. The Oxnard Chamber has added its name to most of the opposition coalitions on those bills. A new measure recently surfaced that would require buffer zones around warehouse uses that the Chamber is currently looking into. Such legislation could have an impact on the development of the Sakioka Farms project and operations at or near the Port of Hueneme.
• The BAC also received a progress report on how the retail cannabis permits were moving along in Oxnard. Nine of the 16 total approved applicants are under review.
• The cities of Oxnard and Camarillo are looking at joining other Ventura County cities that have implemented Styrofoam food takeout container bans. More to come on this.

The next virtual BAC meeting is Monday, May 10, at noon. All members are welcome to attend; those who want to advocate for the rights of local businesses are invited to join the committee. Contact Nancy Lindholm for the meeting dial-in information.